HS Baseball: Southington Still Strong Despite Many New Faces

After the Southington High baseball team lost its entire starting infield, catcher and No. 1 pitcher through graduation, coach Charlie Lembo did not know what to expect this season.

Would inexperienced players step up and perform? Did the Blue Knights have enough talent to approach the team that advanced to the Class LL title game last year?

So far Southington (11-2), No. 8 in The Courant state ratings, has done both.

Southington's 3-0 win over Northwest Catholic-West Hartford Wednesday was its eighth in a row, as Kyle Cole tossed a complete-game two-hitter. This followed a near no-hitter from No. 1 starter Joe Rivera (4-0, 0.62 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings). He gave up an infield single in the sixth for Conard-West Hartford's only hit in a 5-0 victory Monday.

Shortstop Joe Daigle was brilliant in the field, as he had "eight or nine assists," according to Lembo.

"The leadoff batter lines a shot up the middle," Lembo said. "Joe dived, got up and threw him out."

Daigle and the rest of the infield always ask for extra grounders during or after practice. "They've worked extremely hard to get better and physically and mentally to be ready for any situation that comes up on the field," Lembo said.

Southington's 10-9 win over Bristol Central last month showed the team's resilience. The Blue Knights scored seven runs in the second, but Bristol Central scored five in its half of the inning. Southington scored two runs in the seventh to take the lead. After Bristol Central scored twice to get within 10-9 and had the bases loaded, Cole struck out the final two batters to end it.

"A lesser team would have lost that game," Lembo said. "I like how we are progressing."

Berlin On Roll

Berlin, which routed Maloney-Meriden 20-5 earlier this month, rapped out 17 hits in a 16-3 victory over Bristol Eastern Wednesday.

But hitting alone wasn't the reason Berlin, No. 9 in The Courant state ratings, has a 14-game winning streak. "We have a lot going for us with a lot of varsity experience," coach Leo Veleas said. "That can help in a tight game and knowing what to do."

Berlin (14-1) also has two solid starters atop its rotation in Jared Gallagher (5-1) and Kyle Naples (4-0). "Jared throws strikes and can throw to both sides of the plate," Veleas said. "A lot of times high school pitchers don't want to pitch inside, and we have to keep reminding our guys about that."

Naples needed just 64 pitches in a 3-0 win over Bristol Central Monday. Veleas called it "a very efficient" performance.

The Redcoats average almost nine runs a game. Four of their top hitters are Daren Grabowski (.468), Greg Konowski (.385), Alec Norton (.381) and Naples (.362).

"Timely hits, of course, are important," Veleas said. "But it really comes down to making the big pitch to get that big out and playing defense."

Visgilio Tough On East Hampton

Will Visgilio fired a one-hitter in a 1-0 Old Lyme victory Monday over East Hampton, No. 3 in The Courant area ratings. "He mixed his pitches up very well," Old Lyme coach Randy St. Germain said. "We made two double plays. One came in the fourth. With runners on first and second and one out, Marvin Gorgas lined out to third. And we doubled up the man at second."

Visgilio, a sophomore, showed poise. "In his last start we were up 1-0, and he walked two guys the next inning," St. Germain said. "And they scored four runs."

Morgan-Clinton won 4-1.

"But that experience helped him against East Hampton," St. Germain said. "He stayed focused. He didn't get rattled with a couple of guys on base. He found a way to get outs."

That Old Lyme (7-9) beat East Hampton wasn't that surprising. The Shoreline Conference has formidable teams such as East Hampton, Cromwell and Haddam-Killingworth. But Morgan, Portland, Westbrook, Old Lyme and others also boast significant depth and talent.

"We lost to Oxford 3-2 in a [Class S] semifinal last year and they beat Cromwell in the final," St. Germain said. "H-K [M] and Cromwell [winning S] got to the finals in 2012. And East Hampton won S in 2011. The Shoreline always has been there." ... Opponents of Cheney Tech-Manchester (14-5) should not be complacent because it's No. 7 in L. Two of the losses were because of forfeits for using an ineligible player. Cheney Tech showed its pedigree in a 4-3 loss to Jonathan Law-Milford (14-2) Tuesday night. Credit Cheney Tech coach Gary Marineau for seeking challenging non-CSC games.

Merlyn Herrerra, who's going to Eastern Connecticut, struck out 11 for Cheney Tech. "Merlyn has been great and can pitch with anyone," Marineau said. "Playing teams out of our conference, like Bristol Eastern and Law, hopefully help us for the postseason." ... H-K coach Mark Brookes goes for his 600th career win Sunday at home against Morgan.